Separator panel holder for display shelves

ABSTRACT

An improved panel support for use in partitioning display shelves which is positionable at any location along the length of the shelf without the necessity of having a supporting structure at the front edge of the shelf comprising a slotted L-shaped holder employing a bifurcated cam-shaped protrusion which is grasped by a correspondingly profiled clamping strip mounted on the shelf along which the holder may be moved.

United States Patent 5 1191 Heinrich Feb. 25, 1975 [54] SEPARATOR PANELHOLDER FOR 3,579,710 5/1971 Gartzke 211/184 X DISPLAY SHELVES FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor Wilhelm Heinrich, 13-3441, 1,052,52512/1966 Great Britain 211/184 Oberhone, Germa y 378,486 7/1964Switzerland 16/93 D [22] Filed: Oct. 9, 1973 Primary ExaminerDonald A.Griffin [2]] Appl' N05 404,249 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Warren F. B.Lindsley [52] U.S. C1 211/184, 312/140.3 57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl E05d13/02 A d I If [58] Field 61 Search 211/184, 43; 312/1405; 'mpmve F .9lO8/61 16/93 D 94 D play shelves wh1ch 1s pos1t1onable at any l0cat1onalong the length of the shelf without the necessity of having asupporting structure at the front edge of the [56] References Citedshelf comprising a slotted L-shaped holder employing UNTED STATESPATENTS a bifurcated cam-shaped protrusion which is grasped 767,1398/1904 De Carli 108/61 by a correspondingly profiled clamping stripmounted Latlmer on the helf along the holder may be moved 1,747,4962/1930 Vanderveld... 312/1403 2,724,627 11/1955 Moncier 312/1403 7Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.868.021

suwzq z IOB SEPARATOR PANEL HOLDER FOR DISPLAY SHELVES BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Partitioned shelves are conveniently employed in the displayof various kinds of merchandise particularly when the separation ofthese items according to type, size, price, etc. is important. Veryfrequently such displays must be reorganized as certain items are closedout, replaced by other items or the seasonal fluctuations in demandprompt such reorganizations. Further, displays will be alteredperiodically to renew buyers attention and interest.

One known method of partitioning shelves employs flat separator panelssupported by slotted front and rear panels which may become warped orworn in which case the separator panels are no longer held securely inplace and may be easily pushed aside or knocked over. Furthermore, thenumber of slots in the rear panel is limited so that only discretelocations of the separator panels are possible. The poorly supporteddividers resting askew or completely dislodged from the slotted endpanels detract from the orderliness and attractiveness of the displayand require constant attention. Another disadvantage of this prior artis that the front panel support tends to obscure the merchandise beingdisplayed.

Merchandizing people are becoming increasingly aware of the importanceof maintaining attractive displays while at the same time reducing thelabor involved in organizing and reorganizing such displays. For thisreason, there is a need for an improved means for mounting the separatorpanels of a shelving display. It is also desirable to be able to mountsuch panels at any position along the length of the shelf so thatoptimum use may be made of the total available space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide an improved partition panel holder for display shelves.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unique clamping devicewhich securely holds a panel for partitioning a desired shelf in anupright position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a support for a panelfor partitioning a shelf which may be adjustably positioned along thelength of the shelf.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedseparator panel holder that does not require a panel supporting memberalong the front of the shelf.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a clamp forsupporting a shelf partition which is attractive in appearance andeconomical to produce.

The foregoing objects are achieved in this invention by providing anovel panel partition holder which grasps the partition along its twoparallel sides while fitting with a bifurcated cam-shaped protrusioninto a correspondingly profiled clamping strip. The clamping strip ispositioned over the top rear edge of the shelf and is held there betweenthe shelf and the adjacent wall.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention may be morereadily described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a separator panel mounting on a shelfand secured by a profiled clamping strip and embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the separator panel shown in FIG. 1 taken alongthe line 22.

FIG. 3 is an end view of FIG. 1 taken along the line 33 and showing onlythe clamping strip.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the separator panel shown in FIG. 1 and takenalong the line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the separator panel shown in FIGS. 1 and2.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the separator panel shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5and 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawings by characters of reference, FIGS. 1-6 disclose an L-shapedpa'nel clamping and supporting means 10 for receiving and holding apanel 11 in an upright or vertical position on a shelf'lZ. The L-shapedpanel clampingand supporting means 10 comprises a bifurcated structuremilled to form a pair of spaced L-shaped leg members 10A and 108 whichdefine between them a groove or slot 13 for receiving panel 11. Thisgroove or slot may be formed to wedgingly receive between leg members10A and 108 a partition panel.

As noted from the drawings, the longest leg of the L- shaped panelclamping and supporting means 10 extends laterally across the surface ofshelf 12 and is aided in maintaining its upright vertical position by apair of ears 14A and 14B spaced laterally from the L- shaped leg membersone positioned on each side thereof at the shelf supporting edge of thepanel clamping and supporting means 10.

Further, slot 13 is milled to extend into the clamping and supportingmeans 10 substantially its full depth but is closed adjacent its bottomand wall positioned edges by strips 15 and 16 which aid in supportingthe spaced L-shaped leg members 10A and 10B and maintain them apart apredetermined distance in parallel arrangement.

As noted in FIG. 1, the outside corner of the intersecting legs of theL-shaped panel clamping and supporting means .10 is cut away and abifurcated camshaped clamping means 18 is formed thereon. This clampingmeans comprises two cam-shaped fingers, arms or heads 19A and 198 whichare yieldly distorted to move toward each other when they are pressedinto a clamping strip 20 as shown in FIG. 1. Clamping means 18 furthercomprises a rectangular slide member 21 which is parallelly arrangedwith the flat surfaces of ears 14A and 148 for sliding on clamping strip20. This slide member is around the vertically positioned edge of theshort leg of the L-shaped panel clamping and supporting means 10 andforms a plate for ease in sliding along the clamping strip 20 so as toposition the panel clamping and supporting means 10 at anyposition'along the slide.

Clamping strip 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises an elongatedchannel 22 the edges of which are provided with protrusions 22A and 228which protrude inwardly of the channel for engaging with the camshapedarms or heads 19A and 19B of the clamping means 18 arranged on theL-shaped clamping and supporting means 10. This profiled clamping stripis intended to form a seat into which the head 19A and 19B of theclamping means 18 may be seated to form a firm interlocking connectionbetween the panel supporting means and the clamping strip 20.

The clamping strip is further provided with a leg 23 which extendslaterally from channel 22 to form a right angle with the bottom 24thereof. This angular form permits the placement of the clamping stripon the top back edge of shelf 12 where it may rest in frie tionalengagement therewith or secured thereto by adhesive or some suitableform of fastening means. it should be recognized that the most suitablearrangement is simply to rest the clamping strip on the edge of theshelf since in this arrangement, it may bereadily removed and used inother places.

The functions of the individual parts of the panel clamping andsupporting means and associated clamping strip may be best described byreference to FIG. .1 which shows the complete assembly in which thepanel clamping and supporting means 10 is holding a panel 11 and ismounted on the clamping strip 20. Clamping strip 20 is in turn supportedby shelf 12 which is shown perpendicularly arranged adjacent to the flatsurface of a wall 25.

Retainer tab or leg 23 of clamping strip 20 extends downwardly betweenthe rear edge of shelf 12 and the flat juxtapositioned surface of wall25.

The inner surfaceof channel 22 formed by clamping strip 20 isappropriately contoured to match the outer mating surfaces 19A and 19Bof the bifurcated camshaped protrusion of clamping means 18 but therelative dimensions of channel 22 are such that the individual heads 19Aand 198 must be forced together as clamping means 18 is pressed intochannel 22. The outer surfaces of heads 19A and 19B remain ininterference with the inner surfaces of channel 22 after installationhereby affording a firm and secure gripping action between the panelclamping and supporting means 10 and clamping strip 20.

Triangular projections or ears 14A and 14B rest flat against the topsurface of shelf 12 thereby insuring the upright position of the panelclamping and supporting means. Corresponding edges of ears 14A and 14Brest against the front edge of the clamping strip 20 and any tendencyfor a departure from a perpendicular relationship between the panelclamping and supporting means 10 and strip 20 is restrained byinterference between the front edge of strip 20 and the adjacentsurfaces of ears 14A and MB. In a similar fashion, the rear surface ofslide member 21 is in contact with flat surface of the wall 25 andmaintains a perpendicular relationship between wall 25 and the panelclamping and supporting means 10.

The design of the cam-shaped arms or heads 19A and 19B of the clampingmeans 18 maybe varied to accommodate different materials and methods offabrication. Heads 19A and 198 may be of any suitable configuration suchas of a spherical configuration in lieu of that shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and5. It should be noted that the clamping means 18 and its arms or heads19A and 19B may extend the full length of slide plate or member 21 oronly a part thereof and still provide the firm interlocking functionnecessary for rigid support of panel 11.

A variety of materials may be suitable for the fabrica- 6 able along thelength of the shelf and its position may be quickly and easily changedby sliding the clamping and supporting device along the clamping stripmember.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A clamping means for detachably mounting andholding partition panels on a shelf comprising:

an L-shaped clamping member grooved along its length to provide a. pairof parallelly arranged spaced legs for receiving therebetween apartition panel, 7

a clamping means arranged at the outside peripheral corner of theintersection of the legs for detachably fitting into a clamping strip,and

a clamping strip comprising an elongated channel for positioninglaterally of the longitudinal axis of said L-shaped clamping member,

said clamping means being insertable into said channel for detachableconnection therewith,

said clamping strip comprising a right angular configuration presentingits channel along the outer surface along one edge thereof and a flatplanar surface along the other edge,

said right angular configuration fitting over the top edge of the shelfbeing partitioned.

2. The clamping means set forth in claim I wherein:

said clamping means comprises a pair of spaced fingers yieldinglydistortable when detachably fitted into said channel for firmly grippingthe inside walls of said channel.

3. The clamping means set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said clamping means comprises a pair of spaced cam surfaces protrudingfrom the periphery of said L shaped clamping member which yieldinglydistort when they are pushed into said channel to frictionally engagethe inner walls of said channel to hold said L-shaped member in a givenposition 'on said:

clamping means. 4. The clamping means set forth in claim 3 wherein: theside walls of the cavity of said channel have a profile similar to theprofile of said cam surfaces of said clamping means. 5. The clampingmeans set forth in claim 1 wherein: said clamping means is formed of aresilient material. 6. The clamping means set forth in claim 1 wherein:said clamping means is formed of a resilient plastic.

7. The clamping means set forth in claim 1 wherein: the groove betweensaid spaced leg members of said L-shaped clamping member is formed towedgingly receive the partition panel therebetween for firmly holding itin place.

1. A clamping means for detachably mounting and holding partition panelson a shelf comprising: an L-shaped clamping member grooved along itslength to provide a pair of parallelly arranged spaced legs forreceiving therebetween a partition panel, a clamping means arranged atthe outside peripheral corner of the intersection of the legs fordetachably fitting into a clamping strip, and a clamping stripcomprising an elongated channel for positioning laterally of thelongitudinal axis of said L-shaped clamping member, said clamping meansbeing insertable into said channel for detachable connection therewith,said clamping strip comprising a right angular configuration presentingits channel along the outer surface along one edge thereof and a flatplanar surface along the other edge, said right angular configurationfitting over the top edge of the shelf being partitioned.
 2. Theclamping means set forth in claim 1 wherein: said clamping meanscomprises a pair of spaced fingers yieldingly distortable whendetachably fitted into said channel for firmly gripping the inside wallsof said channel.
 3. The clamping means set forth in claim 1 wherein:said clamping means comprises a pair of spaced cam surfaces protrudingfrom the periphery of said L-shaped clamping member which yieldinglydistort when they are pushed into said channel to frictionally engagethe inner walls of said channel to hold said L-shaped member in a givenposition on said clamping means.
 4. The clamping means set forth inclaim 3 wherein: the side walls of the cavity of said channel have aprofile similar to the profile of said cam surfaces of said clampingmeans.
 5. The clamping means set forth in claim 1 wherein: said clampingmeans is formed of a resilient material.
 6. The clamping means set forthin claim 1 wherein: said clamping means is formed of a resilientplastic.
 7. The clamping means set forth in claim 1 wherein: the groovebetween said spaced leg members of said L-shaped clamping member isformed to wedgingly receive the partition panel therebetween for firmlyholding it in place.